St. Julien
St Julien is the smallest of the "Big Four" Médoc communes. Although, without any First Growths, St Julien is recognised to be the most consistent of the main communes, with several châteaux turning out impressive wines year after year.
St Julien itself is much more of a village than Pauillac and almost all of the notable properties lie to its south. Its most northerly château is Ch. Léoville Las Cases (whose vineyards actually adjoin those of Latour in Pauillac) but, further south, suitable vineyard land gives way to arable farming and livestock until the Margaux appellation is reached.
The soil is gravelly and finer than that of Pauillac, and without the iron content which gives Pauillac its stature. The homogeneous soils in the vineyards give the commune a unified character.
The wines can be assessed as much by texture as flavour, and there is a sleek, wholesome character to the best. Elegance, harmony and perfect balance and weight, with hints of cassis and cedar, are what epitomise classic St Julien wines. At their very best they combine Margaux’s elegance and refinement with Pauillac’s power and substance.
Many châteaux in St Julien have reported that the grapes had thick skins and small berries this year, producing exceptionally concentrated wines. Despite this, the wines still have a sunny and welcoming personality. The average yield is 34hl/ha, and St Julien's reputation for consistency and reliability remains untarnished. However, it may not have reached the heights of the very best of Pauillac. While the finest vintage wines may not have a sense of light and shade, there is excellent density, colour, flavour, and tannin. The wines are generous and enveloping, with opulence and viscosity that reflect the vintage conditions.
Léoville Las Cases, Ducru-Beaucaillou, and Léoville Barton are leading the pack, with the latter being an exceptional effort and the first to come from fully completed new cellars. The new facilities have allowed more control over the details, and Léoville Barton 2022 seems to have more tension than usual. This is even more evident with its sibling estate, Langoa Barton, which shows a new focus and complexity and achieves new heights. Talbot is also worth watching, as its wine follows a similar path.
Branaire-Ducru is also sensual and beguiling, with an elegant aesthetic enhanced by a mid-palate that is plumper than usual but without ever feeling overstretched. Examples of the vintage's more prosperous and moreish character are Beychevelle, Lagrange, and Léoville Poyferré, with the latter having a high proportion of Merlot. Many châteaux in St Julien have reported that the grapes had thick skins and small berries this year, producing exceptionally concentrated wines. Despite this, the wines still have a sunny and welcoming personality. The average yield is 34hl/ha, and St Julien's reputation for consistency and reliability remains untarnished. However, it may not have reached the heights of the very best of Pauillac. While the finest vintage wines may not have a sense of light and shade, there is excellent density, colour, flavour, and tannin. The wines are generous and enveloping, with opulence and viscosity that reflect the vintage conditions.